Processing of SLPI by chymase

ABSTRACT

It is now discovered that human chymase cleaves human SLPI at a specific site and that this cleavage can be used as an indicator of chymase activity. The present invention provides methods of diagnosing a chymase-associated disease or evaluating the efficiency of a treatment of a chymase-associated disease in a human subject by measuring SLPI processing, as well as other related methods and compositions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Application No. 60/758,400 filed onJan. 12, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated byreference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods of analyzing chymase activity.In particular, the invention relates to diagnosing a chymase-associateddisease or evaluating the efficiency of a treatment of achymase-associated disease in a human subject by measuring SLPIprocessing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor (SLPI) was first discovered as an11.7 kD inhibitor for elastase and cathepsin G (Thompson et al., ProcNatl Acad Sci U S A 1986; 83:6692-6). SLPI is expressed by mast cells(Westin et al., Biol Chem 1999; 380:489-93) and is present in the mucosaof the upper airway (Fryksmark et al., Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1982;91:268-71) and sputum (Kramps et al., J Histochem Cytochem 1981;29:712-9). High amounts of SLPI have been measured in the nasal (Lee etal., Am Rev Respir Dis 1993; 147:710-6), trachea and broncus (Kramps etal., Am Rev Respir Dis 1984; 129:959-63; Mooren et al., J HistochemCytochem 1982; 30:1130-4), maxillary sinus (Fryksmark et al., supra) andgoblet cells of the bronchiole epithelium (Willems et al., Am Rev RespirDis 1989; 139:1244-50).

The crystallography studies of SLPI have shown the molecule to be amember of the Whey Acidic protein-like family (Grutter et al., Embo J1988; 7:345-51). These proteins have two 4 disulfide linked domains. The4 disulfide linkages and helical structure of each domain make SLPI avery stable protein. Bovine (Grutter supra) and sheep (Pemberton et al.,Biochim Biophys Acta 1998; 1379:29-34) mast cell proteases have beenshown to cleave SLPI at Leu72-Met73. Others have shown a lower molecularweight processed product of SLPI but have not characterized the enzymeresponsible for this cleavage (Ota et al., Hum Reprod 2002; 17:2517-22).SLPI was described as the most effective inhibitor for chymase (Walteret al., Arch Biochem Biophys 1996; 327:81-8; and Fink et al., Biol ChemHoppe Seyler 1986; 367:567-71).

Chymase is a chymotryptic serine proteinase that belongs to thepeptidase family S1. It is expressed in mast cells and globuleleucocytes of skin and lung and thought to function in the degradationof the extracellular matrix, the regulation of submucosal glandsecretion, and the generation of vasoactive peptides. It has a maximalactivity immediately upon release into the extracellular matrix aftermast cells have been activated (Takai et al., FEBS Lett 467: 141-144,2000). There are two forms of mammalian chymase, α and β, which differin species and have different functions. In human and baboons, onlyα-chymase is found, while dogs, rats, and mice have both α-andβ-chymases (Dell'Italia et al., Curr Opin Cardiol 2003 17: 374-379).

Although the precise patho-physiological roles of chymase have yet to bedetermined, chymase has been implicated in microvascular leakage,neutrophil accumulation, the stimulation of mucus secretion, and themodulation of cytokines, etc. A potent, chymase-selective inhibitor maybe indicated in mast cell-mediated diseases such as asthma, pulmonaryinflammation, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). Becausechymase can play a role in the generation of cardiac and vascular wallangiotensin II, a chymase inhibitor may have potential use as anantihypertensive treatment for vascular wall injury and inflammation(atherosclerosis/restenosis), as well as cardiac hypertrophy. Chymase isa target for cardiovascular disease therapies (Doggrell et al., Can JPhysiol Pharmacol. 2005 February; 83(2):123-30). In addition, chymasehas also been proposed to play a critical role in diseases such asrheumatoid arthritis (Kobayashi et al., Jpn J Pharmacol. 2002 September;90(1):7-11), diabetic nephropathy (Huang et al., J Am Soc Nephrol. 2003July; 14(7):1738-47), and inflammatory diseases (Muto et al., Idrugs.,2002, 12, 1141-50)

Therefore, compounds designed to inhibit the biological activity ofchymase may offer therapeutic benefit in a number of disease areas.Selective chymase inhibitors have been developed, which includeTY-51076, SUN-C8257, BCEAB, NK320, and TEI-E548 (see Doggrell et alsupra). Promising results have been obtained with these chymaseinhibitors in animal models of myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy,and tachycardia-induced heart failure. To facilitate the test of chymaseinhibitors in human, as well as the study of chymase activity in humanin general, there is a need to develop a biomarker for chymase activityin human.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is now discovered that human chymase cleaves human SLPI at a specificsite and that this cleavage can be used as an indicator of chymaseactivity. This cleavage is specific to chymase when tested over a seriesof proteases known to interact with SLPI including tryptase, cathepsinG, elastase and proteinase 3.

In one general aspect, the present invention provides a method ofdetecting a chymase-associated disease in a human subject, comprisingthe steps of: a) obtaining a biological sample from the human subject;b) measuring the level of human SLPI cleavage by human chymase in thebiological sample; and c) comparing the level measured from step b) to acontrol of the level of human SLPI cleavage by human chymase in ahealthy human subject, wherein an elevated level of human SLPI cleavageby human chymase compared to said control indicates that the humansubject has a chymase-associated disease or has increased risk of achymase-associated disease.

In another general aspect, the present invention provides a method ofevaluating the effectiveness of a treatment to a chymase-associateddisease in a human patient, comprising the steps of: a) obtaining abiological sample from the human patient; b) measuring the level ofhuman SLPI cleavage by human chymase in the biological sample; and c)comparing the level measured from step b) to a control of the level ofhuman SLPI cleavage by human chymase in the human patient prior to thetreatment, wherein a decreased level of human SLPI cleavage by humanchymase compared to said control indicates that the treatment to achymase-associated disease in said patient is effective.

The present invention also provides a method of measuring the biologicalactivity of a human chymase, comprising the steps of: a) contacting thehuman chymase with a human SLPI in an assay mixture; b) incubating theassay mixture under a condition wherein the human chymase cleaves thehuman SLPI; and c) measuring the level of human SLPI cleavage by humanchymase in the assay mixture.

The present invention further provides a method of identifying acompound that decreases the biological activity of a human chymasecomprising the steps of: a) contacting a test compound with a humanchymase and a human SLPI in an assay mixture; b) incubating the assaymixture under a condition wherein the human chymase cleaves the humanSLPI; c) measuring the level of human SLPI cleavage by human chymase inthe assay mixture; and d) comparing the level detected from step c) tothat detected from a control wherein the test compound is omitted fromthe assay mixture.

In addition, the present invention also provides kits related to themethods of the present invention.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of classifying apatient who has a better chance to respond to a treatment involving achymase inhibitor, comprising the steps of a) obtaining a biologicalsample from a patient; b) measuring the level of human SLPI cleavage byhuman chymase in the biological sample; and c) comparing the levelmeasured from step b) to a control of the level of human SLPI cleavageby human chymase in a healthy human subject, wherein an elevated levelof human SLPI cleavage by human chymase compared to said controlindicates that the patient has a better chance to respond to a treatmentinvolving a chymase inhibitor.

Other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following disclosure, including the detailed description of theinvention and its preferred embodiments and the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the digestion of recombinant human SLPI (rSLPI) by humanchymase. The samples at each lane are: 1—Protein size standard(BechMark, Invitrogen); 2—SLPI, Oh; 3—Chymase+SLPI, 20 min;4—Chymase+SLPI, 140 min; 5—Chymase+SLPI, 4 h; 6—Chymase+SLPI, 21 h;7—SLPI, 21 h; 8—Chymase 21 h; 9—1 ug Chymase; 10—Protein size standard(Mark-12, Invitrogen).

FIG. 2 illustrates that known chymase inhibitors decreased the cleavageof rSLPI by chymase. The numbers 0, 8, 80, 800, indicate the amount ofchymase inhibitor present in the assay mixture in the unit of pmoles.

FIG. 3 illustrates that chymase was able to cleave SLPI present insamples of human saliva, and that chymase inhibitor reduced thecleavage.

FIG. 4 compares the level of SLPI cleavage in saliva samples taken froma normal human subject and a patient with a chymase-associated disease.

FIG. 5 illustrates that an increase in cSLPI correlates with increase inallergic symptoms. cSLPI to total SLPI ratios were determined in nasallavages by western analysis obtained from individuals 0.75 hours and 0.5hours prior to antigenic challenge and 0.5 hours and 7 hours postantigen challenge (FIG. 5 b). Patients were scored for symptom intensity(Lebel score) at the same time points (FIG. 5 a).

FIG. 6 illustrates that asthmatic sputum samples contain higher percentcSLPI/total SLPI than normal sputum samples and correlate with chymaselevels from these individuals. Sputum samples were obtained from bothnormal and asthmatic subjects. Both cSLPI to SLPI ratios and chymaselevels were determined by western analyses. Values were determined bydensitometry analysis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

All publications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference.Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention pertains.

As used herein, the terms “comprising”, “containing”, “having” and“including” are used in their open, non-limiting sense.

The following are abbreviations that are at times used in thisspecification:

bp=base pair

cDNA=complementary DNA

COPD=chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

ELISA=enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay;

kb=kilobase; 1000 base pairs

PAGE=polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

PCR=polymerase chain reaction

SDS=sodium dodecyl sulfate

SLPI=Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor

As used herein, the term “biological activity of a chymase” refers to anactivity exerted by the chymase as determined in vivo or in vitro,according to standard techniques. Exemplary biological activities of achymase, include, but are not limited to, its ability to convertangiotensin I to the vasoactive peptide angiotensin II, to selectivelyconvert big endothelin 1 to the 31 amino acid length peptide endothelin1, to degrade the extracellular matrix, to cleave stem cell factor toyield a bioactive, soluble product, to process procollagenase,inflammatory cytokines and other bioactive peptides, including SLPI asdescribed herein, etc.

A “biological sample” as used herein refers to a sample containing orconsisting of cell or tissue matter, such as cells or biological fluidsisolated from a subject. The “subject” can be a mammal, such as a rat, amouse, a monkey, or a human, that has been the object of treatment,observation or experiment. Examples of biological samples include, forexample, sputum, blood, blood cells (e.g., white blood cells), amnioticfluid, plasma, semen, saliva, bone marrow, tissue or fine-needle biopsysamples, urine, peritoneal fluid, pleural fluid, and cell cultures.Biological samples may also include sections of tissues such as frozensections taken for histological purposes. A test biological sample isthe biological sample that has been the object of analysis, monitoring,or observation. A control biological sample can be either a positive ora negative control for the test biological sample. Often, the controlbiological sample contains the same type of tissues, cells and/orbiological fluids of interest as that of the test biological sample. Inparticular embodiments, the biological sample is a “clinical sample,”which is a sample derived from a human patient.

A “cell” refers to at least one cell or a plurality of cells appropriatefor the sensitivity of the detection method. The cell can be present ina cultivated cell culture. The cell can also be present in its naturalenvironment, such as a biological tissue or fluid. Cells suitable forthe present invention may be bacterial, but are preferably eukaryotic,and are most preferably mammalian.

A “human chymase” as used herein refers to a chymase that was originallyisolated from a human. Chymase is a chymotryptic serine proteinase thatbelongs to the peptidase family S1. The synonyms of chymase include mastcell protease I; skeletal muscle protease; skin chymotryptic proteinase;mast cell serine proteinase, chymase; and skeletal muscle (SK) protease.Preferential cleavage for a chymase is:Phe-|Xaa>Tyr-|-Xaa>Trp-|-Xaa>Leu-|-Xaa. An exemplary “human chymase” hasthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, which is depicted in GenBankprotein ID: NP_(—)001827. A “human chymase” as used herein includesstructural and functional polymorphisms of the human chymase depicted inSEQ ID NO:1. “Polymorphism” refers to a set of genetic variants at aparticular genetic locus among individuals in a population.

A “chymase-associated disease” or a “chymase-associated disorder” asused herein refers to a disease or disorder associated with overactivity or over expression of chymase, or a disease or disorder thatcan be treated or ameliorated by decreasing the biological activity ofchymase or by decreasing the amount of chymase in a subject, andsubclinical manifestations or conditions that accompany with such adisease or disorder in the subject. Exemplary “chymase-associateddiseases” include, but are not limited to asthma, allergic rhinitis,fibrosis, hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, rheumatoidarthritis, diabetic nephropathy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) and inflammatory diseases.

A “human SLPI” as used herein refers to a secretory leukocyte peptidaseinhibitor that was originally isolated from a human. The synonyms ofSLPI include ALP; MPI; ALK1; BLPI; HUSI; WAP4; WFDC4; and HUSI-I. SLPIprotects epithelial tissues from serine proteases. It is found invarious secretions including seminal plasma, cervical mucus, andbronchial secretions, and has affinity for trypsin, leukocyte elastase,and cathepsin G. Its inhibitory effect contributes to the immuneresponse by protecting epithelial surfaces from attack by endogenousproteolytic enzymes; the protein is also thought to have broad-spectrumantibiotic activity. An exemplary “human SLPI” has the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO:2, which is the mature portion of the proteindepicted in GenBank protein ID: NP_(—)003055. A “human SLPI” as usedherein includes structural and functional polymorphisms of the humanSLPI depicted in SEQ ID NO:2.

The “level of human SLPI cleavage by human chymase” refers to the degreeor the amount of human SLPI cleavage or proteolysis by human chymase. Asused herein, the “level of human SLPI cleavage by human chymase” can bemeasured as the ratio of the human SLPI fragment resulting from chymasecleavage to the full length SLPI present in the test biological sampleor assay mixture.

The “human SLPI fragment resulting from chymase cleavage” refers to aportion of a human SLPI that is produced from the proteolysis orcleavage of the SLPI by a chymase. It is discovered in this inventionthat a human chymase cleaves a human SLPI in between Leu72-Met73,wherein the number 72 or 73, refers to the position of the amino acidresidue counting from the amino-terminal end of the human SLPI. Thus, anexemplary “human SLPI fragment resulting from a chymase cleavage” can bethe Ser1-Leu72 or Met 73 -Ala107 fragment of SEQ ID NO:2, which consiststhe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4, respectively. A“human SLPI fragment resulting from a chymase cleavage” as used hereinincludes structural and functional polymorphisms of the human SLPIfragment depicted in SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4.

“Nucleotide sequence” refers to the arrangement of eitherdeoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide residues in a polymer in eithersingle- or double-stranded form. Nucleic acid sequences can be composedof natural nucleotides of the following bases: thymidine, adenine,cytosine, guanine, and uracil; abbreviated T, A, C, G, and U,respectively, and/or synthetic analogs of the natural nucleotides.

An “isolated” nucleic acid molecule is one that is substantiallyseparated from at least one of the other nucleic acid molecules presentin the natural source of the nucleic acid, or is substantially free ofat least one of the chemical precursors or other chemicals when thenucleic acid molecule is chemically synthesized. An “isolated” nucleicacid molecule can also be, for example, a nucleic acid molecule that issubstantially free of at least one of the nucleotide sequences thatnaturally flank the nucleic acid molecule at its 5′ and 3′ ends in thegenomic DNA of the organism from which the nucleic acid is derived. Anucleic acid molecule is “substantially separated from” or“substantially free of” other nucleic acid molecule(s) or otherchemical(s) in preparations of the nucleic acid molecule when there isless than about 30%, 20%, 10%, or 5% (by dry weight) of the othernucleic acid molecule(s) or the other chemical(s) (also referred toherein as a “contaminating nucleic acid molecule” or a “contaminatingchemical”).

Isolated nucleic acid molecules include, without limitation, separatenucleic acid molecules (e.g., cDNA or genomic DNA fragments produced byPCR or restriction endonuclease treatment) independent of othersequences, as well as nucleic acid molecules that are incorporated intoa vector, an autonomously replicating plasmid, a virus (e.g., aretrovirus, adenovirus, or herpes virus), or into the genomic DNA of aprokaryote or eukaryote. In addition, an isolated nucleic acid moleculecan include a nucleic acid molecule that is part of a hybrid or fusionnucleic acid molecule. An isolated nucleic acid molecule can be anucleic acid sequence that is: (i) amplified in vitro by, for example,polymerase chain reaction (PCR); (ii) synthesized by, for example,chemical synthesis; (iii) recombinantly produced by cloning; or (iv)purified, as by cleavage and electrophoretic or chromatographicseparation.

The term “oligonucleotide” or “oligo” refers to a single-stranded DNA orRNA sequence of a relatively short length, for example, less than 100residues long. For many methods, oligonucleotides of about 16-25nucleotides in length are useful, although longer oligonucleotides ofgreater than about 25 nucleotides may sometimes be utilized. Someoligonucleotides can be used as “primers” for the synthesis ofcomplimentary nucleic acid strands. For example, DNA primers canhybridize to a complimentary nucleic acid sequence to prime thesynthesis of a complimentary DNA strand in reactions using DNApolymerases. Oligonucleotides are also useful for hybridization inseveral methods of nucleic acid detection, for example, in Northernblotting or in situ hybridization.

The terms “polypeptide,” “protein,” and “peptide” are used hereininterchangeably to refer to amino acid chains in which the amino acidresidues are linked by peptide bonds or modified peptide bonds. Theamino acid chains can be of any length of greater than two amino acids.Unless otherwise specified, the terms “polypeptide,” “protein,” and“peptide” also encompass various modified forms thereof. Such modifiedforms may be naturally occurring modified forms or chemically modifiedforms. Examples of modified forms include, but are not limited to,glycosylated forms, phosphorylated forms, myristoylated forms,palmitoylated forms, ribosylated forms, acetylated forms, ubiquitinatedforms, etc. Modifications also include intra-molecular crosslinking andcovalent attachment to various moieties such as lipids, flavin, biotin,polyethylene glycol or derivatives thereof, etc. In addition,modifications may also include cyclization, branching and cross-linking.Further, amino acids other than the conventional twenty amino acidsencoded by the codons of genes may also be included in a polypeptide.

An “isolated protein” is one that is substantially separated from atleast one of the other proteins present in the natural source of theprotein, or is substantially free of at least one of the chemicalprecursors or other chemicals when the protein is chemicallysynthesized. A protein is “substantially separated from” or“substantially free of” other protein(s) or other chemical(s) inpreparations of the protein when there is less than about 30%, 20%, 10%,or 5% (by dry weight) of the other protein(s) or the other chemical(s)(also referred to herein as a “contaminating protein” or a“contaminating chemical”).

Isolated proteins can have several different physical forms. Theisolated protein can exist as a full-length nascent or unprocessedpolypeptide, or as a partially processed polypeptide or as a combinationof processed polypeptides. The full-length nascent polypeptide can bepostranslationally modified by specific proteolytic cleavage events thatresult in the formation of fragments of the full-length nascentpolypeptide. A fragment, or physical association of fragments can havethe biological activity associated with the full-length polypeptide;however, the degree of biological activity associated with individualfragments can vary.

An isolated polypeptide can be a non-naturally occurring polypeptide.For example, an “isolated polypeptide” can be a “hybrid polypeptide.” An“isolated polypeptide” can also be a polypeptide derived from anaturally occurring polypeptide by additions or deletions orsubstitutions of amino acids. An isolated polypeptide can also be a“purified polypeptide” which is used herein to mean a specifiedpolypeptide in a substantially homogeneous preparation substantiallyfree of other cellular components, other polypeptides, viral materials,or culture medium, or when the polypeptide is chemically synthesized,chemical precursors or by-products associated with the chemicalsynthesis. A “purified polypeptide” can be obtained from natural orrecombinant host cells by standard purification techniques, or bychemical synthesis, as will be apparent to skilled artisans.

The terms “hybrid protein,” “hybrid polypeptide,” “hybrid peptide,”“fusion protein,” “fusion polypeptide,” and “fusion peptide” are usedherein interchangeably to mean a non-naturally-occurring polypeptide orisolated polypeptide having a specified polypeptide molecule covalentlylinked to one or more other polypeptide molecules that do not link tothe specified polypeptide in nature. Thus, a “hybrid protein” can be twonaturally occurring proteins or fragments thereof linked together by acovalent linkage. A “hybrid protein” can also be a protein formed bycovalently linking two artificial polypeptides together. Typically butnot necessarily, the two or more polypeptide molecules are linked or“fused” together by a peptide bond forming a single non-branchedpolypeptide chain. The term “protein fragment” as used herein means apolypeptide that represents a portion of a protein. “Recombinant” refersto a nucleic acid, a protein encoded by a nucleic acid, a cell, or aviral particle, that has been modified using molecular biologytechniques to something other than its natural state. For example,recombinant cells can contain nucleotide sequence that is not foundwithin the native (non-recombinant) form of the cell or can expressnative genes that are otherwise abnormally, under-expressed, or notexpressed at all. Recombinant cells can also contain genes found in thenative form of the cell wherein the genes are modified and re-introducedinto the cell by artificial means. The term also encompasses cells thatcontain an endogenous nucleic acid that has been modified withoutremoving the nucleic acid from the cell; such modifications includethose obtained, for example, by gene replacement, and site-specificmutation.

A “recombinant host cell” is a cell that has had introduced into it arecombinant DNA sequence. Recombinant DNA sequence can be introducedinto host cells using any suitable method including, for example,electroporation, calcium phosphate precipitation, microinjection,transformation, biolistics and viral infection. Recombinant DNA may ormay not be integrated (covalently linked) into chromosomal DNA making upthe genome of the cell. For example, the recombinant DNA can bemaintained on an episomal element, such as a plasmid. Alternatively,with respect to a stably transformed or transfected cell, therecombinant DNA has become integrated into the chromosome so that it isinherited by daughter cells through chromosome replication. Thisstability is demonstrated by the ability of the stably transformed ortransfected cell to establish cell lines or clones comprised of apopulation of daughter cells containing the exogenous DNA. Recombinanthost cells may be prokaryotic or eukaryotic, including bacteria such asE. coli, fungal cells such as yeast, mammalian cells such as cell linesof human, bovine, porcine, monkey and rodent origin, and insect cellssuch as Drosophila- and silkworm-derived cell lines. It is furtherunderstood that the term “recombinant host cell” refers not only to theparticular subject cell, but also to the progeny or potential progeny ofsuch a cell. Because certain modifications can occur in succeedinggenerations due to either mutation or environmental influences, suchprogeny may not, in fact, be identical to the parent cell, but are stillincluded within the scope of the term as used herein.

“Sequence” means the linear order in which monomers occur in a polymer,for example, the order of amino acids in a polypeptide or the order ofnucleotides in a polynucleotide.

“Sequence identity or similarity”, as known in the art, is therelationship between two or more polypeptide sequences or two or morepolynucleotide sequences, as determined by comparing the sequences. Asused herein, “identity”, in the context of the relationship between twoor more nucleic acid sequences or two or more polypeptide sequences,refers to the percentage of nucleotide or amino acid residues,respectively, that are the same when the sequences are optimally alignedand analyzed. For purposes of comparing a queried sequence against, forexample, the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2, the queried sequence isoptimally aligned with SEQ ID NO: 2 and the best local alignment overthe entire length of SEQ ID NO:2 is obtained.

Analysis can be carried out manually or using sequence comparisonalgorithms. For sequence comparison, typically one sequence acts as areference sequence, to which a queried sequence is compared. When usinga sequence comparison algorithm, test and reference sequences are inputinto a computer, sub-sequence coordinates are designated, if necessary,and sequence algorithm program parameters are designated.

Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can be conducted, forexample, by using the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman &Wunsch, J Mol. Biol., 48:443 (1970). Software for performing Needleman &Wunsch analyses is publicly available through the Institut Pasteur(France) Biological Software website:http://bioweb.pasteur.fr/seqanal/interfaces/needle.html. The NEEDLEprogram uses the Needleman-Wunsch global alignment algorithm to find theoptimum alignment (including gaps) of two sequences when consideringtheir entire length. The identity is calculated along with thepercentage of identical matches between the two sequences over thereported aligned region, including any gaps in the length. Similarityscores are also provided wherein the similarity is calculated as thepercentage of matches between the two sequences over the reportedaligned region, including any gaps in the length. Standard comparisonsutilize the EBLOSUM62 matrix for protein sequences and the EDNAFULLmatrix for nucleotide sequences. The gap open penalty is the score takenaway when a gap is created; the default setting using the gap openpenalty is 10.0. For gap extension, a penalty is added to the standardgap penalty for each base or residue in the gap; the default setting is0.5.

Hybridization can also be used as a test to indicate that twopolynucleotides are substantially identical to each other.Polynucleotides that share a high degree of identity will hybridize toeach other under stringent hybridization conditions. “Stringenthybridization conditions” has the meaning known in the art, as describedin Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, SecondEdition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.,(1989). An exemplary stringent hybridization condition compriseshybridization in 6x sodium chloride/sodium citrate (SSC) at about 45°C., followed by one or more washes in 0.2x SSC and 0.1% SDS at 50-65°C., depending upon the length over which the hybridizing polynucleotidesshare complementarity.

“Vector” refers to a nucleic acid molecule into which a heterologousnucleic acid can be or is inserted. Some vectors can be introduced intoa host cell allowing for replication of the vector or for expression ofa protein that is encoded by the vector or construct. Vectors typicallyhave selectable markers, for example, genes that encode proteinsallowing for drug resistance, origins of replication sequences, andmultiple cloning sites that allow for insertion of a heterologoussequence. Vectors are typically plasmid-based and are designated by alower case “p” followed by a combination of letters and/or numbers.Starting plasmids disclosed herein are either commercially available,publicly available on an unrestricted basis, or can be constructed fromavailable plasmids by application of procedures known in the art. Manyplasmids and other cloning and expression vectors that can be used inaccordance with the present invention are well-known and readilyavailable to those of skill in the art. Moreover, those of skill readilymay construct any number of other plasmids suitable for use in theinvention. The properties, construction and use of such plasmids, aswell as other vectors, in the present invention will be readily apparentto those of skill from the present disclosure.

In practicing the present invention, many conventional techniques inmolecular biology, microbiology and recombinant DNA are used. Thesetechniques are well-known and are explained in, for example, CurrentProtocols in Molecular Biology, Vols. I, II, and III, F. M. Ausubel, ed.(1997); and Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual,Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (2001).

The invention provides a general method of measuring the biologicalactivity of a human chymase by measuring the level of human SLPIcleavage by human chymase.

In one general aspect, the present invention provides a method ofdetecting a chymase-associated disease in a human subject by measuringthe level of human SLPI cleavage by human chymase in a biologicalsample. A human subject who has a chymase-associated disease can have anoveractive chymase or an increased level of chymase. Thus, a biologicalsample taken from such a human subject can contain more cleavage of SLPIat the specific site Leu72-Met73 by chymase as compared to that of ahealthy human subject.

Any type of biological samples can be used in the invention. Inparticular embodiments, the biological samples can be saliva, sputum,nasal exudate, ELF or lavage fluids. The biological samples can beobtained from the human subject in ways known to a person skilled in theart. Control biological sample contains the same type of tissues, cellsand/or biological fluids of interest as that of the test biologicalsample and can be obtained from one or a population of healthy humanswho have not been diagnosed with a chymase-associated disease.

Both the level of the full length human SLPI and the level of the SLPIfragment resulting from chymase cleavage can be measured from thebiological sample and used to quantify the level of human SLPI cleavageby human chymase. The level of the full length human SLPI and the levelof the SLPI fragment resulting from a chymase cleavage in a biologicalsample can be measured by any means for protein quantification known toa person skilled in the art.

In one embodiment, the SLPI or SLPI fragment can be isolated or purifiedfrom a biological sample and the amount thereof determined. The SLPI orSLPI fragment can be readily separated from the rest of the biologicalsample using methods known in the art, e.g., size-based separationmethods such as gel filtration. Additionally, after reduction of thesample the SLPI or SLPI fragment in a sample can be separated in a gelsuch as polyacrylamide gel and subsequently immunoblotted using anantibody immunoreactive with the protein complex.

Alternatively, the level of the SLPI or SLPI fragment can be determinedin a biological sample without separation, isolation or purification.For this purpose, it is preferred that an antibody selectivelyimmunoreactive with the SLPI or SLPI fragment is used in an immunoassay.For example, immunocytochemical methods can be used. Other well knownantibody-based techniques can also be used including, e. g.,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), radioimmunoassay (RIA),immunoradiometric assays (IRMA), fluorescent immunoassays, protein Aimmunoassays, and immunoenzymatic assays (EMA). See e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos.4,376,110 and 4,486,530, both of which are incorporated herein byreference.

The level of human SLPI cleavage by human chymase is then calculated asthe ratio of the human SLPI fragment resulting from chymase cleavage tothe full length SLPI present in the test biological sample or assaymixture. An elevated level of human SLPI cleavage by human chymase inthe test sample compared to the control sample indicates that the humansubject has a chymase-associated disease or has an increased risk ofdeveloping a chymase-associated disease.

In another general aspect, the present invention provides a method ofevaluating the effectiveness of a treatment to a chymase-associateddisease in a human patient by measuring the level of human SLPI cleavageby human chymase before, during or after the treatment. An effectivetreatment to a chymase-associated disease would decrease the biologicalactivity of chymase or decrease the amount of chymase in the humanpatient. Thus, less cleavage of human SLPI at the specific siteLeu72-Met73 by chymase would be observed in a biological sample takenfrom such a human patient after the effective treatment. As a control,biological sample containing the same type of tissues, cells and/orbiological fluids of interest as that of the test biological sample canbe obtained from the same human patient prior to the treatment. Adecreased level of human SLPI cleavage by human chymase in the testsample compared to the control sample indicates that the treatment to achymase-associated disease in said patient is effective.

The methods of the invention further comprise the step of analyzingother biomarkers, phenotypes, or physiological changes associated with achymase-associated disease. For example, in asthma, it was recentlyreported that VEGF level and airway vascular permeability index wasinversely correlated with degree of airway obstruction and airwayhyper-reactivity to methacholine in asthmatics (Kanazawa et al., ClinExp Allergy. 2005 November; 35(11):1432-6). In particular, it was foundthat VEGF levels in induced sputum and airway vascular permeabilityindex were significantly higher in asthmatics without ulcerative colitis(UC) and asthmatics with UC than in normal controls or UC patients(Id.). Thus, in a method of the present invention of diagnosing anasthmatic condition or a method of the present invention of evaluatingthe effectiveness of a treatment to an asthmatic condition, the methodfurther comprises the step of analyzing the expression level of VEGF ininduced sputum of the human subject.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory lungdisease associated with progressive airflow limitations that is notfully reversible. COPD includes chronic obstructive bronchitis andemphysema, commonly associated with smoking. While the precise etiologyof COPD is unknown, the medical literature suggests that in someinstances, COPD may represent a pathological progression from verysevere chronic asthma. Hence, the current therapies available for thetreatment of COPD are primarily those designed to reduce the airway andlung inflammation associated with asthma. Current therapies include oralor inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators such as β₂-adrenergicagonists and cholinergic antagonists. One could therefore anticipatethat a new therapy for asthma would also be a likely therapy for COPD.For reviews on COPD see: de Boer, W. I. Perspectives for cytokineantagonist therapy in COPD. Drug Discovery Today, 10(2):93, 2005; andBarnes, P. J. New Treatments for COPD. Nature Reviews-Drug Discovery, 1:437, 2002. Like asthma, the inflammatory aspect of COPD can becharacterized by an inflammatory response that includes an influx ofwhite blood cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages, into the lungsand airways. This influx is one of the hallmarks of the airway and lunginflammation associated with both asthma and COPD. Thus, in a method ofthe present invention of diagnosing a COPD condition or a method of thepresent invention of evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment to aCOPD condition, the method further comprises the step of measuring theinflux of white blood cells into the lungs and airways.

Cytokines are key inflammatory mediators in asthma and COPD.Pro-inflammatory cytokines include, among others, interleukin (IL)-1,tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and macrophage chemotactic factor (MCP)-1.Effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of asthma and COPD tendto reduce levels of these pro-inflammatory cytokines. Thus, in a methodof the present invention of diagnosing an asthma or a COPD condition ora method of the present invention of evaluating the effectiveness of atreatment to an asthma or a COPD condition, the method further comprisesthe step of measuring the level of cytokines in the subject.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of classifyingpatients who have a better chance to respond to chymase inhibitortreatment, comprising the step of measuring the level of SLPI cleavagein such patients. A patient with more cleavage of SLPI is likely to havehyperactive chymase, and thus likely to be more responsive to thechymase inhibitor therapy. For example, asthma may be produced byconstriction-related (application of bronchial dilators) and/or air-wayconstruction-related (mucus over production) activities. It remains tobe determined if the role of mast cells and its released chymase isinvolved in either or both of the aberrant pathophysiological featuresof asthma. Hence, asthma could be the result of chymase-dependent and/orchymase independent mechanisms. To that end, the specific cleavage ofSLPI by chymase can be used to associate or validate or stratifychymase-dependent from chymase-independent asthmatic populations tostrengthen chymase inhibitor efficacy performance.

The present invention further provides a method of identifying acompound that decreases the biological activity of a human chymasecomprising the steps of: a) contacting a test compound with a humanchymase and a human SLPI in an assay mixture; b) incubating the assaymixture under a condition wherein the human chymase cleaves the humanSLPI; c) measuring the level of a human SLPI fragment resulting from thechymase cleavage in the assay mixture; and d) comparing the amountdetected from step c) to that detected from a control, wherein the testcompound is omitted from the assay mixture.

The compound identification methods can be performed using conventionallaboratory formats or in assays adapted for high throughput. The term“high throughput” refers to an assay design that allows easy screeningof multiple samples simultaneously and/or in rapid succession, and caninclude the capacity for robotic manipulation. Another desired featureof high throughput assays is an assay design that is optimized to reducereagent usage, or minimize the number of manipulations in order toachieve the analysis desired. Examples of assay formats include 96-wellor 384-well plates, levitating droplets, and “lab on a chip”microchannel chips used for liquid handling experiments. It is wellknown by those in the art that as miniaturization of plastic molds andliquid handling devices are advanced, or as improved assay devices aredesigned, greater numbers of samples can be processed using the designof the present invention.

Any test compounds may be screened in the screening assays of thepresent invention to select modulators of the protein complex of theinvention. By the term

“identifying” compounds it is intended to encompass both (a) choosingcompounds from a group previously unknown to be modulators of chymase;and (b) testing compounds that are known to be capable of binding, ormodulating the functions and activities of chymase. Both types ofcompounds are generally referred to herein as “test compounds” or“candidate compounds”. The candidate compounds encompass numerouschemical classes, including but not limited to, small organic orinorganic compounds, natural or synthetic molecules, such as antibodies,proteins or fragments thereof, antisense nucleotides, interfering RNA(iRNA) and ribozymes, and derivatives, mimetics and analogs thereof.Preferably, they are small organic compounds, i.e., those having amolecular weight of no greater than 10,000 daltons, more preferably lessthan 5,000 daltons. Preferably, the test compounds are provided inlibrary formats known in the art, e.g., in chemically synthesizedlibraries (See generally, Gordan et al. J Med. Chem., 37:1385-1401(1994)), recombinantly expressed libraries (e.g., phage displaylibraries), and in vitro translation-based libraries (e.g., ribosomedisplay libraries).

Candidate compounds comprise functional chemical groups necessary forstructural interactions with polypeptides, and typically include atleast an amine, carbonyl, hydroxyl or carboxyl group, preferably atleast two of the functional chemical groups and more preferably at leastthree of the functional chemical groups. The candidate compounds cancomprise cyclic carbon or heterocyclic structure and/or aromatic orpolyaromatic structures substituted with one or more of theabove-identified functional groups. Candidate compounds also can bebiomolecules such as peptides, saccharides, fatty acids, sterols,isoprenoids, purines, pyrimidines, derivatives or structural analogs ofthe above, or combinations thereof and the like. Where the compound is anucleic acid, the compound typically is a DNA or RNA molecule, althoughmodified nucleic acids having non-natural bonds or subunits are alsocontemplated.

Candidate compounds are obtained from a wide variety of sourcesincluding libraries of synthetic or natural compounds. For example,numerous means are available for random and directed synthesis of a widevariety of organic compounds and biomolecules, including expression ofrandomized oligonucleotides, synthetic organic combinatorial libraries,phage display libraries of random peptides, and the like. Candidatecompounds can also be obtained using any of the numerous approaches incombinatorial library methods known in the art, including biologicallibraries; spatially addressable parallel solid phase or solution phaselibraries: synthetic library methods requiring deconvolution; the“one-bead one-compound” library method; and synthetic library methodsusing affinity chromatography selection (Lam (1997) Anticancer Drug Des.12:145). Alternatively, libraries of natural compounds in the form ofbacterial, fungal, plant and animal extracts are available or readilyproduced. Additionally, natural and synthetically produced libraries andcompounds can be readily modified through conventional chemical,physical, and biochemical means.

Further, known pharmacological agents can be subjected to directed orrandom chemical modifications such as acylation, alkylation,esterification, amidation, etc. to produce structural analogs of theagents. Candidate compounds can be selected randomly or can be based onexisting compounds that bind to and/or modulate the function of chymaseactivity. Therefore, a source of candidate agents is one or more thanone library of molecules based on one or more than one known compoundthat increases or decreases chymase activity in which the structure ofthe compound is changed at one or more positions of the molecule tocontain more or fewer chemical moieties or different chemical moieties.The structural changes made to the molecules in creating the librariesof analog activators/inhibitors can be directed, random, or acombination of both directed and random substitutions and/or additions.One of ordinary skill in the art in the preparation of combinatoriallibraries can readily prepare such libraries based on the existingcompounds.

A variety of other reagents also can be included in the mixture. Theseinclude reagents such as salts, buffers, neutral proteins (e.g.,albumin), detergents, etc. that can be used to facilitate optimalprotein-protein and/or protein-nucleic acid binding. Such a reagent canalso reduce non-specific or background interactions of the reactioncomponents. Other reagents that improve the efficiency of the assay suchas nuclease inhibitors, antimicrobial agents, and the like can also beused.

Examples of methods for the synthesis of molecular libraries can befound in the art, for example in: Zuckermann et al. (1994). J Med. Chem.37:2678. Libraries of compounds can be presented in solution (e.g.,Houghten (1992) Biotechniques 13:412-421), or on beads (Lam (1991)Nature 354:82-84), chips (Fodor (1993) Nature 364:555-556), bacteria(U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409), spores (U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,698), plasmids(Cull et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:1865-1869) or phage(see e.g., Scott and Smith (1990) Science 249:3 86-390).

The selected compounds can be tested for their ability to decrease thebiological activity of chymase to cleave a SLPI at the specific siteLeu72-Met73. During the test, the test compound can be added to thechymase prior to, after, or simultaneously with SLPI that serves as thesubstrate for SLPI protease activity. Generally, a control assay isperformed in which the above screening assay is conducted in the absenceof the test compound. The result of this control assay is then comparedwith that obtained in the presence of the test compound.

The chymase or the SLPI in the screening assay can be isolated or notisolated. In one embodiment, substantially purified chymase or SLPI canbe used in the screening assay. It will be apparent to skilled artisansthat any recombinant expression methods may be used in the presentinvention for expression and purification of SLPI or chymase. Exemplarynucleic acid molecules that can be used in the present invention includenucleic acid molecules that encode the human chymase or SLPI.

Typically, the nucleic acids, preferably in the form of DNA, areincorporated into a vector to form expression vectors capable ofdirecting the production of the interacting protein member(s) onceintroduced into a host cell. Many types of vectors can be used for thepresent invention. Methods for the construction of an expression vectorfor purposes of this invention should be apparent to skilled artisansapprised of the present disclosure. (See generally, Current Protocols inMolecular Biology, Vol. 2, Ed. Ausubel, et al., Greene Publish. Assoc. &Wiley Interscience, Ch. 13, 1988; Glover, DNA Cloning, Vol. II, IRLPress, Wash., D.C., Ch. 3, 1986; Bitter, et al., in Methods inEnzymology 153:516-544 (1987); The Molecular Biology of the YeastSaccharomyces, Eds. Strathern et al., Cold Spring Harbor Press, Vols. Iand II, 1982; and Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A LaboratoryManual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, 1989.)

Generally, the expression vectors include an expression cassette havinga promoter operably linked to a DNA encoding an interacting proteinmember. The promoter can be a native promoter, i.e., the promoter foundin naturally occurring cells to be responsible for the expression of theinteracting protein member in the cells. Alternatively, the expressioncassette can be a chimeric one, i.e., having a heterologous promoterthat is not the native promoter responsible for the expression of theinteracting protein member in naturally occurring cells. The expressionvector may further include an origin of DNA replication for thereplication of the vectors in host cells. Preferably, the expressionvectors also include a replication origin for the amplification of thevectors in, e.g., E. coli, and selection marker(s) for selecting andmaintaining only those host cells harboring the expression vectors.

The thus constructed expression vectors can be introduced into the hostcells by any techniques known in the art, e.g., by direct DNAtransformation, microinjection, electroporation, viral infection,lipofection, gene gun, and the like. The expression of the protein ofinterest may be transient or stable. The expression vectors can bemaintained in host cells in an extrachromosomal state, i.e., asself-replicating plasmids or viruses. Alternatively, the expressionvectors can be integrated into chromosomes of the host cells byconventional techniques such as selection of stable cell lines orsite-specific recombination. In stable cell lines, at least theexpression cassette portion of the expression vector is integrated intoa chromosome of the host cells.

The vector construct can be designed to be suitable for expression invarious host cells, including but not limited to bacteria, yeast cells,plant cells, insect cells, and mammalian and human cells. Methods forpreparing expression vectors for expression in different host cellsshould be apparent to a skilled artisan.

Homologues and fragments of chymase or SLPI can also be easily expressedusing the recombinant methods described above. For example, to express aprotein fragment, the DNA fragment incorporated into the expressionvector can be selected such that it only encodes the protein fragment.Likewise, a specific hybrid protein can be expressed using a recombinantDNA encoding the hybrid protein. Similarly, a homologue protein may beexpressed from a DNA sequence encoding the homologue protein. Ahomologue-encoding DNA sequence may be obtained by manipulating thenative protein-encoding sequence using recombinant DNA techniques. Forthis purpose, random or site-directed mutagenesis can be conducted usingtechniques generally known in the art. To make protein derivatives, forexample, the amino acid sequence of a native interacting protein membermay be changed in predetermined manners by site-directed DNA mutagenesisto create or remove consensus sequences.

In another embodiment, the chymase or SLPI involved in the presentinvention can be present in a biological sample, such as saliva, sputum,nasal exudate, ELF, and lavage fluids etc. The chymase or SLPI can alsobe associated with a cell or present in a cell lysate.

The method of the present invention further comprises the step oftesting the compound in one or more other assays for the chymaseactivity. The compounds can be further tested for the other activitiesof chymase, including but not limited to, its ability to convertangiotensin I to the vasoactive peptide angiotensin II, to selectivelyconvert big endothelin 1 to the 31 amino acid length peptide endothelin1, to degrade the extracellular matrix, to cleave stem cell factor toyield a bioactive, soluble product, to process procollagenase,inflammatory cytokines and other bioactive peptides, etc. In aparticular embodiment, the compounds can be further tested in an enzymeinhibition assay involving a chymase and a chromogenic substrate (seefor example, Garavilla et al., The J. Bio. Chem. 2005, 280:18001-18007).

The method of the present invention further comprises the step oftesting the compounds in an animal model for the chymase-associateddiseases. For example, a well-accepted model of airway inflammation isthe Ascaris suum antigen-induced asthmatic sheep model. Afteradministering a test compound to the sheep model, a reduction in theinflux of neutrophils and macrophages would suggest to one of ordinaryskill in the art that the compound would be useful for the treatment ofthe airway and lung inflammation associated with both asthma and COPD.Another model of airway inflammation is lipolysaccharide (LPS)-inducedairway neutrophilia in rats, where, upon introduction of LPS into thelungs, there is an influx of white blood cells into the bronchoalveolarlavage fluid. After administering a test compound to the rat mode,reversed LPS-induced airway inflammation, and lowered neutrophil countsin the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, would suggest to one of ordinaryskill in the art that the test compound would be useful for thetreatment of both asthma and COPD. Yet another model for asthma and COPDis a model of glycogen-induced acute peritonitis in rats. Afteradministering a test compound to the rat mode, reduced levels ofpro-inflammatory cytokines include, among others, IL-1, TNF-α, andMCP-1, in the ascites fluid and plasma of glycogen-treated rats woulddemonstrate that the test compound would be useful for the treatment ofboth asthma and COPD.

EXAMPLE 1 Human Chymase Cleaved Recombinant Human SLPI at a SpecificSite

Although human SLPI cleavage by bovine (Grutter et al., Embo J 1988;7:345-51) and ovine (Pemberton et al., Biochim Biophys Acta 1998;1379:29-34) mast cell proteases has been reported by investigators, noinvestigation of SLPI cleavage by human chymase has been reported. ThisExample investigated the ability of human chymase to cleave recombinanthuman SLPI (rSLPI).

Recombinant human SLPI and goat anti-SLPI polyclonal antibody wereobtained from R&D systems (Minneapolis, Minn.). Rabbit anti-SLPIantibody was obtained from Abcam (Cambridge, Mass.). Human chymase andtryptase were obtained from Cortex Biochem (San Leandro, Calif.).Cathepsin G and elastase were purchased from Biodesign International(Saco, Me.) and Proteinase 3 was purchased from Fitzgerald IndustriesInternational (Concord, Mass.). Unless otherwise indicated, similarreagents were also used in the other Examples included herein.

Recombinant human SLPI was incubated with human chymase (molar ratio40:1) in 0.1 M Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 0.5 M NaCl at 37° C. Samples werecollected after various time points. Reduced samples were separated on a4-12% SDS-PAGE (NuPAGE, Invitrogen) (2 ug rSLPI per well) and stainedwith Coomassie stain.

FIG. 1 shows that cleavage of recombinant human SLPI was observed afterrSLPI was incubated with human chymase for about 20 minutes. Even in aten-fold excess of rSLPI to chymase most of the rSLPI protein wascleaved (data not shown). The full length human SLPI was cleaved intotwo fragments. Mass spectrometry analyses indicated that the about 11.7kD full length human SLPI was cleaved into two fragments of the sizesapproximately of 7.9 and 3.8 kD. To determine the exact site ofcleavage, N-terminal sequencing was performed on the full length (FIG.1, band A) and cleaved bands (FIG. 1, bands B and C). Sequencinganalysis indicated that the cleavage of recombinant human SLPI by humanchymase was at Leu72-Met73. This result showed that SLPI, a knowninhibitor of chymase (Fink et al., Biol Chem Hoppe Seyler 1986;367:567-71), acted also as a substrate of chymase. This was consistentwith the activity of the bovine and ovine mast cell proteases on thecleavage of human SLPI (Grutter et al., supra; and Pemberton et al.,supra).

A panel of proteases including elastase, cathepsin G, tryptase andproteinase 3 was tested for their ability to cleave the recombinanthuman SLPI using LC/MS analysis. These proteases were known to beinhibited by SLPI. Recombinant human SLPI (1 μg) was incubated for 5hours with a test protease (50 ng). Samples were then diluted in 50 mMNH₄HCO₃ buffer to about 0.1 μg protein/μL. Liquid Chromatography wasperformed using an Agilent 1100 LC/MSD. The diluted samle (10 μL) wasinjected on a Zorbax SB300 5u C8, C18 (150×2.1 mm) column at a flow rate0.2 mL/min. Proteins within the sample were eluted using a 30 minutegradient from 15% to 60% solvent B in solvent A, wherein Solvent A:(0.1% Formic acid+0.02% TFA)/H₂O; and Solvent B: (0.1% Formic acid+0.02%TFA)/ACN. Cleaved rSLPI was detected at a retention time of 10.7 minuteswhile the intact SLPI was detected at 12.2 minutes. The Agilent 1100 MSDSL mass spectrometer was interfaced with an 1100 HPLC system through anelectrospray ionization source. Chemstation software version 10.02 wasused for the system control and data acquisition.

From LC/MS, the native rSLPI was isolated and detected at the expectedsize of 11708 daltons. After incubation with chymase a second peak wasresolved from the HPLC. This second peak had an additional 18 massunits, consistent with the addition of water to the nicked or cleavedrSLPI molecule. Thus, the presence of the second peak indicated thatchymase indeed cleaved rSLPI, as was observed from the SDS-PAGEanalyses. Incubation of rSLPI with the other proteases on the panel didnot result in the formation of the second peak, indicating that theother proteases tested did not cleave the rSLPI. Reduction of the rSLPIsamples in the presence of the proteases did result in cleavage of theSLPI protein, indicating that the other proteases were able to cleavethe reduced form of rSLPI.

The inability of other proteases to cleave SLPI is consistent with thestudies of Vogelmeier et al., which showed no cleavage of SLPI byelastase and cathepsin G (J Clin Invest 1991; 87:482-8).

EXAMPLE 2 Chymase Inhibitors Decreased The Cleavage of Human rSLPI byHuman Chymase

This Example examines the effect of chymase inhibitors on the cleavageof human SLPI by the human chymase. Two chymase inhibitors were testedat various concentrations: chymase inhibitor A,[2-(3-{Methyl-[1-(naphthalene-2-carbonyl)-piperidin-4-yl]-carbamoyl}-naphthalen-2-yl)-1-naphthalen-1-yl-2-oxo-ethyl]-phosphonicacid), which has been described in US20030195172; and chymase inhibitorB,{(5-Chloro-benzo[b]thiophen-3-yl)-[2-(3-chloro-5-fluoro-phenyl)-vinylcarbamoyl]-methyl}-methyl-phosphinicacid, which has been described in US20050176769.

Recombinant human SLPI (80 pmoles) was incubated with human chymase (80pmoles) in the presence or absence of chymase inhibitors for 30 minutesat 37° C. in either 1M Tris buffer (pH 7.5) or PBS. Western Analysis wasperformed to quantify the amount of the rSLPI and the amount of thelarger cleavage product of SLPI (about 7.9 kD from mass spectrometryanalyses). The samples were denatured and reduced with an equal volumeof buffer containing SDS and beta-mecaptoethanol. Each sample wasapplied to a 4-20% gradient polyacrylamide gel or a 15% polyacrylamidegel. The samples were electrophorezed and transferred to a PVDF membrane(Pierce Biotechnology, Rockford, Ill.). The blots were blocked in 5%milk/PBS-tween (PBS/0.4% tween-20) for 1 hour at room temperature. Theblots were incubated overnight at 4° C. in the primary antibody (goatanti-SLPI at 1:1000 or rabbit anti-SLPI at 1:2000) diluted in blockingsolution. After three washes of PBS-tween the blot was incubated for 1hour at room temperature with the secondary antibody (goat anti-rabbitHRP or rabbit anti-goat HRP) diluted 1:2500 in blocking solution. Theblots were washed 6 times with PBS-tween and incubated for 1 minute atroom temperature with Wester Lightning chemiluminescence reagents(Perkin Elmer, Boston, Mass.) and developed on Biomax Light Film(Eastman Kodak, Rochester, N.Y.) in the darkroom. A densitometer,FluorChem(tm) 8000, Advanced Fluorescence, Chemiluminescence and VisibleImaging System from Alpha Innotech (San Leandro, Calif.), was used tomeasure the densities correlated to the amount of the rSLPI and theamount of the larger cleavage product of SLPI on the developed film.

The percentage of SLPI cleavage was calculated with the formula:100×(density of the larger SLPI cleavage product/(density of therSLPI+density of the larger SLPI cleavage product)).

FIG. 2 shows the effects of the chymase inhibitor on the cleavage ofSLPI by chymase. The amount of inhibition was directly related to theamount of chymase inhibitor added. This suggested the usefulness of thisassay for determining the efficacy of chymase inhibitor compounds.

EXAMPLE 3 Human Chymase Cleaved Human SLPI in a Clinical Sample

This example illustrates an ex vivo assay to determine SLPI cleavagefrom an easily accessible clinical sample, human saliva.

Ten μl of human saliva was incubated with chymase (4 μg/0.1U/5 μM)and/or chymase inhibitor (100 μM) brought up to a total volume of 30 μlwith PBS for 30 min at 37° C. For undigested saliva samples 10 μl ofsaliva were diluted in 20 μl of PBS. As described in Example 2, Westernanalysis was performed to determine the amount of SLPI and the amount ofthe larger SLPI cleavage product in the saliva sample, and thepercentage of SLPI cleavage was calculated.

FIG. 3 shows that exogenous chymase cleaved SLPI in the saliva sample asit did with the rSLPI. It also shows the effect of a chymase inhibitoron the ability of chymase to cleave SLPI. The chymase inhibitor,{(5-Chloro-benzo[b]thiophen-3-yl)-[2-(3,4-difluoro-phenyl)-vinylcarbamoyl]-methyl}-methyl-phosphinicacid, has been described in US20050176769. The inhibitor decreasedchymase activity and inhibited the cleavage of SLPI from saliva (FIG.3). These results indicated that the activity of chymase as well as theefficiency of chymase inhibitors can be monitored from the salivasamples.

Consistent with the results of Example 1, among the panel of proteasestested, the cleavage of SLPI in saliva was unique to chymase. The largerSLPI cleavage product was not observed when the saliva samples wereincubated with cathepsin G, tryptase and proteinase 3. Minor digestionof SLPI was observed after the saliva was incubated with elastase.However, the resulting digestion products, a doublet of bands (˜11 and10.5 kD after SDS-PAGE analyses), were different in size from thecleavage products resulting from chymase digestion.

EXAMPLE 4 SLPI Processing as a Biomarker for Chymase-associated diseases

The cleavage of SLPI was measured in human saliva samples from normalsubjects and patients with allergy, a disorder that is associated withhyperactivity of chymase.

Saliva samples were obtained from human subjects: one complaining of anallergic condition induced by exposure to mice (allergy), and the otherhaving no respiratory ailments (normal). The samples were frozen andstored at −80° C. The samples were thawed on ice and vortexed. Saliva(10 μl) was diluted with PBS 15(μl). As described in Example 2, Westernanalysis was performed to determine the amount of SLPI and the amount ofthe larger SLPI cleavage product in the saliva sample, and thepercentage of SLPI cleavage was calculated.

FIG. 4 shows the differential amount of SLPI cleavage between salivasamples from normal subject and the patient with allergy. A higherpercentage of SLPI cleavage was observed in the allergy saliva sample,indicating that SLPI processing can be used as a biomarker forchymase-associated diseases.

EXAMPLE 5

The following methodology was employed to investigate the solublecomponents (mediators, cytokines) of the upper airway inflammation inthe nose at baseline and in response to a relevant allergen in subjectswith allergic rhinitis.

-   -   Materials    -   1 pipette (>10 cc) or 10 cc syringe    -   Sterile nasal wash solution: NaCl 0.9%, 10 ml for 1 nostril,        preheated to 37° C.    -   Preheating device    -   Tissues    -   Funnel (40 mm)    -   Syringes (10 cc)    -   Plastic containers    -   Nasal speculum    -   Xylomethazoline 0.1% nasal spray on Ice    -   Method    -   (Modified from validated technique by De Graaf-In 't Veld C, et        at; Clin Exp Allergy 1995;25:966-73)    -   1. A sterile solution of NaCl 0.9% is warmed to 37° C.    -   2. Accessibility of the nose is checked with a nasal speculum        and sufficient light.    -   3. The subject extends its neck approximately 30° while seated.        Instill ten (10) cc of a warmed-up NaCl 0.9% solution into one        nostril with a pipette or syringe. Instruct subject not to        swallow or to breathe during the procedure.    -   4. After 10 seconds, ask the subject to bend over and gently        expel the wash fluid from its nose into a funnel (connected to        10 cc syringe).    -   5. Pre-challenge, employ 4 nasal washings in total, to get rid        of debris.    -   6. To test reproducibility with study day 1, analyze the first        wash-fluid on day 2 (pre-challenge); after the first nasal        washing on day 2, spray 1 puff of xylomethazoline 0.1% in each        nostril 10 min before the other 3 NAL procedures (do not allow        subject to blow its nose).    -   7. Some minutes later, perform the 2^(nd) and 3rd nasal wash        (and dispose of).    -   8. Store the 4th wash fluid in a plastic container on ice until        processing.    -   9. Process all NALs within 1 h and until the time of processing        stored on ice.        The results are shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 illustrates that an        increase in cSLPI correlates with increase in allergic symptoms.        cSLPI to total SLPI ratios were determined in nasal lavages by        western analysis obtained from individuals 0.75 hours and 0.5        hours prior to antigenic challenge and 0.5 hours and 7 hours        post antigen challenge (FIG. 5 b). Patients were scored for        symptom intensity (Lebel score) at the same time points (FIG. 5        a).

EXAMPLE 6

Sputum was collected from subjects using European Respiratory Society(ERS) recommendations, and protocols that consist of the inhalation ofhypertonic or isotonic saline solution. In mild to moderate asthmaticssputum was induced with hypertonic saline which was aerosolised andinhaled for 3-4 5 min periods. In more severe asthmatics a modified ERSprotocol was used beginning inhalation with normal saline andprogressing more slowly moving to hypertonic saline only if there was nosignificant fall in FEV₁.

The results are show in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 illustrates that asthmatic sputumsamples contain higher percent cSLPI/total SLPI than normal sputumsamples and correlate with chymase levels from these individuals. Sputumsamples were obtained from both normal and asthmatic subjects. BothcSLPI to SLPI ratios and chymase levels were determined by westernanalyses. Values were determined by densitometry analysis.

1. A method of detecting a chymase-associated disease in a humansubject, comprising the steps of: a. obtaining a biological sample fromthe human subject; b. measuring the level of human SLPI cleavage byhuman chymase in the biological sample; and c. comparing the levelmeasured from step b) to a control of the level of human SLPI cleavageby human chymase in a healthy human subject, wherein an elevated levelof human SLPI cleavage by human chymase compared to said controlindicates that the human subject has a chymase-associated disease or hasincreased risk of a chymase-associated disease.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the biological sample is saliva.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the chymase-associated disease is selected from the groupconsisting of asthma, allergic rhinitis, fibrosis, hypertension, cardiachypertrophy, heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic nephropathy,cystic frosis, COPD, and inflammatory diseases.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein the level of human SLPI cleavage by human chymase is measuredas the ratio of a human SLPI fragment resulting from chymase cleavage tothe full length SLPI present in the biological sample.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the human SLPI fragment resulting from chymase cleavageconsists essentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.
 6. Themethod of claim 4, wherein the human SLPI fragment resulting fromchymase cleavage consists essentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO:4.
 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the full length human SLPIconsists essentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
 8. Amethod of evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment to achymase-associated disease in a human patient, comprising the steps of:a. obtaining a biological sample from the human patient; b. measuringthe level of human SLPI cleavage by human chymase in the biologicalsample; and c. comparing the level measured from step b) to a control ofthe level of human SLPI cleavage by human chymase in the human patientprior to the treatment, wherein a decreased level of human SLPI cleavageby human chymase compared to said control indicates that the treatmentto a chymase-associated disease in said patient is effective.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the biological sample is saliva.
 10. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the chymase-associated disease is selectedfrom the group consisting of asthma, allergic rhinitis, fibrosis,hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis,diabetic nephropathy, cystic frosis, COPD, and inflammatory diseases.11. The method of claim 8, wherein the level of human SLPI cleavage byhuman chymase is measured as the ratio of a human SLPI fragmentresulting from chymase cleavage to the full length SLPI present in thebiological sample.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the human SLPIfragment resulting from chymase cleavage consists essentially of theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.
 13. The method of claim 11, whereinthe human SLPI fragment resulting from chymase cleavage consistsessentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.
 14. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the full length human SLPI consists essentially of theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
 15. The method of claim 8, whereinthe treatment to a chymase-associated disease in a human patientinvolves a compound that decreases the biological activity of chymase.16. A method of measuring the biological activity of a human chymase,comprising the steps of: a. contacting the human chymase with a humanSLPI in an assay mixture; b. incubating the assay mixture under acondition wherein the human chymase cleaves the human SLPI; and c.measuring the level of human SLPI cleavage by human chymase in the assaymixture.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the human chymase comprisesthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
 18. The method of claim 16,wherein the human SLPI comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.19. The method of claim 16, wherein the level of human SLPI cleavage byhuman chymase is measured as the ratio of a human SLPI fragmentresulting from chymase cleavage to the full length SLPI present in thebiological sample.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the human SLPIfragment resulting from chymase cleavage consists essentially of theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.
 21. The method of claim 19, whereinthe human SLPI fragment resulting from chymase cleavage consistsessentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.
 22. The method ofclaim 16, wherein said human SLPI is isolated.
 23. The method of claim16, wherein said human SLPI is within a biological sample.
 24. Themethod of claim 16, wherein said human chymase is isolated.
 25. Themethod of claim 16, wherein said human chymase is within a biologicalsample.
 26. A method of identifying a compound that decreases thebiological activity of a human chymase comprising the steps of: a.contacting a test compound with a human chymase and a human SLPI in anassay mixture; b. incubating the assay mixture under a condition whereinthe human chymase cleaves the human SLPI; c. measuring the level ofhuman SLPI cleavage by human chymase in the assay mixture; and d.comparing the level detected from step c) to that detected from acontrol, wherein the test compound is omitted from the assay mixture.27. The method of claim 26, wherein the human chymase comprises theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
 28. The method of claim 26, whereinthe human SLPI comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
 29. Themethod of claim 26, wherein the level of human SLPI cleavage by humanchymase is measured as the ratio of a human SLPI fragment resulting fromchymase cleavage to the full length SLPI present in the biologicalsample.
 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the human SLPI fragmentresulting from chymase cleavage consists essentially of the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO:3.
 31. The method of claim 29, wherein the humanSLPI fragment resulting from chymase cleavage consists essentially ofthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.
 32. The method of claim 26,wherein said human SLPI is isolated.
 33. The method of claim 26, whereinsaid human SLPI is within a biological sample.
 34. The method of claim26, wherein said human chymase is isolated.
 35. The method of claim 26,wherein said human chymase is within a biological sample.
 36. A kitcomprising a. an antibody that binds specifically to a SLPI fragmentconsisting essentially of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQID NO:4; and b. an instruction for correlating the measured level ofsaid SLPI fragment with the biological activity of a human chymase. 37.A method of classifying a patient who has a better chance to respond toa treatment involving a chymase inhibitor, comprising the steps of: a.obtaining a biological sample from a patient; b. measuring the level ofhuman SLPI cleavage by human chymase in the biological sample; and c.comparing the level measured from step b) to a control of the level ofhuman SLPI cleavage by human chymase in a healthy human subject, whereinan elevated level of human SLPI cleavage by human chymase compared tosaid control indicates that the patient has a better chance to respondto a treatment involving a chymase inhibitor.